Local and nationwide daily real estate related news from official sources and blogs of real estate professionals.

The StoneBridge Team, Awhatukee real estate brokers

If you have been in the market to buy or sell a home or love checking out the best homes on the market, check out @The StoneBridge Team’s page and like for future updates!

Commercial Appraiser Data Sources

How do commercial real estate appraisers source data for their analysis?

Foreign Investors

Like other segments of the real estate industry, the past year has seen increased interest from foreign investors in the national multifamily (apartment) real estate market. Les Shaver made a good post about this here in MFE, Multifamily Executive. No doubt that foreign interest, if continued, will impact capitalization rates and the coastal markets in particular.

Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation

If you owe a debt to someone else and they cancel or forgive that debt, the canceled amount may be taxable.

The Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007 generally allows taxpayers to exclude income from the discharge of debt on their principal residence. Debt reduced through mortgage restructuring, as well as mortgage debt forgiven in connection with a foreclosure, qualifies for the relief.

Commercial Appraiser Data Sources

How do commercial real estate appraisers source data for their analysis?

Zillow Home Price Estimates

The Zillow pro blog has a good post on how they do their home price estimates, and the accuracy of the estimates by market. Here’s the link Skipping to the stats on Phoenix, according to Zillow 83.6% of their estimates are within 20% of the actual sales price transactions, within 10% of the sales prices; 61.7%, and within 5% for just 37.2% of transactions.

2015 Housing Outlook

CoreLogic is a leading global property information, analytics, and data-enabled solutions provider. The company maintains a terrific blog for national dataholics. Below is a link to their site and the report that was published 12-29; 2015 Housing Outlook

Latest Freddie mac rate survey

Freddie Mac surveys lenders each week on the rates, fees and points for the most popular mortgage products. The Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) results are released Thursday at 10 a.m. ET.

Mortgage Rates Decline for Third Consecutive Week
01/15/15

Apartment Vacancy Rate Falls to 4% in U.S.

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apartment for rent sign in... Shutterstock“Demand for apartments is seemingly insatiable.”

By Michelle Conlin

What It Means to Have a Tax Lien

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a model house sitting with a... ShutterstockPeople have lost homes for owing just a few hundred dollars in back county and city taxes.

By Geoff Williams